Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor&#39;s surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/310,655, filed Jun. 20, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates to methods, systems, and media fordetecting a presentation of media content on a display device. Moreparticularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to detecting apresentation of media content on a display device and identifying themedia content based on detected light levels.

BACKGROUND

While watching media content (e.g., a television program, movie, etc.),a user is often interested in information relating to the media content.For example, the user may want to browse additional information about atopic that is shown in the media content. Additionally, the user may beinterested in interacting with an application running on a mobile device(e.g., a mobile phone) to control the playback of the media content, toperform searches through the Internet, and/or to perform other tasks. Toexperience these interactive features using conventional approaches, auser may have to manually activate an application on a mobile deviceand/or input program information about the media content being watchedby the user. However, manually activating an application and/orinputting information about the media content being watched by the usercan be inconvenient.

Accordingly, new mechanisms for detecting a presentation of mediacontent on a display device are desirable.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of mediacontent on a display device are provided.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,systems for detecting a presentation of media content on a displaydevice are provided, the systems comprising: a light sensor that detectslight levels in the light sensor's surroundings and generates a signalrepresenting the light levels; and at least one hardware processor thatis coupled to the light sensor and that is configured to: receive thesignal from the light sensor; detect at least one variation in lightlevels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on thesignal; detect at least one variation in light levels indicative of ascene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; anddetermine that media content is being presented on a display device inresponse to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of thepresentation of the video scene and the variation in light levelsindicative of the scene change.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a displaydevice are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a lightsensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating asignal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardwareprocessor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of apresentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at leastone variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent tothe video scene based on the signal; and determining that media contentis being presented on a display device in response to detecting thevariation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the videoscene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,non-transitory computer-readable media containing computer-executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform a method for detecting a presentation of media content on adisplay device are provided. In accordance with some implementations,the method comprises: detecting light levels in the light sensor'ssurroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels;detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of apresentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at leastone variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent tothe video scene based on the signal; and determining that media contentis being presented on a display device in response to detecting thevariation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the videoscene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed subjectmatter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the followingdetailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered inconnection with the following drawings, in which like reference numeralsidentify like elements.

FIG. 1 shows a generalized block diagram of an example of a system fordetecting a presentation of media content on a display device inaccordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 2 shows an example of hardware that can be used in a server, adisplay device, and/or a mobile device in accordance with someimplementations of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an example of a process for detecting apresentation of media content on a display device in accordance withsome implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an example of a process for identifying amedia content item being presented on a display device in accordancewith some implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with various implementations, as described in more detailbelow, mechanisms, which can include systems, methods, andcomputer-readable media, for detecting a presentation of media contenton a display device are provided.

The mechanisms can be implemented with respect to any suitable mediacontent. For example, media content can include any suitable type(s) ofcontent, such as one or more of audio content, video content, text,graphics, multimedia content, captioning content, and/or any othersuitable content. As another example, media content may be provided byany suitable source, such as a television provider, a video hostingand/or streaming service, a video recorder, and/or any other suitablecontent provider. As yet another example, media content may have anysuitable format, such as one or more of JPEG, H.264, MPEG-4 AVC, MPEG-7,MP4, and/or any other suitable format. As still another example, a mediacontent item can have any suitable content, such as a movie, televisionprogram, streaming media program, recorded video program, and/or anyother suitable content.

In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein can detectlight levels in the surroundings of a light sensor and can then analyzethe detected light levels to detect light level variations indicative ofa presentation of media content on a display device (e.g., a television)and/or indicative of the identity of specific media content beingpresented on the display.

In some implementations, such light level variations can be used todetect a scene and then a scene change in the presentation of a mediacontent item.

In some implementations, a video scene can correspond to any suitableportion of a media content item. For example, a video scene can includea group of video frames that contain similar video content (e.g., agroup of video frames in which a difference between two consecutivevideo frames does not exceed a predetermined threshold). In someimplementations, a scene change between two video scenes in a mediacontent item can be identified by detecting a difference between twoframes that exceeds a predetermined threshold. In some implementations,the point of a scene change between a first video scene and a secondvideo scene of a media content item can correspond to the last frame ofthe first video scene, the first frame of the second video scene, aframe inserted between the first video scene and the second video scene,and/or any other suitable portion of the media content item.

In some implementations, a detected pattern of light level variationscan be used to identify that a certain media content item is beingpresented on the display device. In some implementations, the certainmedia content item can be identified by detecting a pattern of lightlevel variations during a presentation of media content and matching thedetected pattern of light level variations against known patterns oflight level variations that correspond to known media content items.

These mechanisms can perform a variety of functions. For example, themechanisms can detect the presence of a television nearby a user (e.g.,using a light sensor coupled to a mobile phone associated with theuser). The mechanisms can then prompt the user to interact with a mobiledevice application by executing the application on a mobile deviceassociated with the user. As another example, the mechanisms canidentify a media content item being presented on a television device andcan present information relating to the identified media content item toa user.

It should be noted that, prior to detecting light levels using a lightsensor and/or collecting any other suitable data, the mechanisms canprovide a user with an opportunity to provide a consent or authorizationto perform actions, such as activating a light sensor, detecting lightlevels, obtaining signals indicative of light levels, transmittingsignals indicative of light signals, processing and/or analyzing signalsindicative of light levels, and/or activating an application upondetection of a presentation of media content. For example, upon loadingan application on a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a tabletcomputer, a wearable computer, and/or any other suitable mobile device),the application can prompt the user to provide authorization foractivating a light sensor, detecting light levels, obtaining signalsindicative of light levels, transmitting signals indicative of lightsignals, analyzing signals indicative of light levels, and/or performingany other suitable action. In a more particular example, in response todownloading the application and loading the application on a mobiledevice, the user can be prompted with a message that requests (orrequires) that the user provide consent prior to performing theseactions. Additionally or alternatively, in response to installing theapplication, the user can be prompted with a permission message thatrequests (or requires) that the user provide consent prior to measuringlight levels, producing signals indicative of light levels, transmittingsignals indicative of light levels, and/or processing and/or analyzingsignals indicative of light levels.

Turning to FIG. 1, a generalized block diagram of an example 100 of asystem for detecting a presentation of media content on a display devicebased on detected light levels in accordance with some implementationsof the disclosed subject matter is shown. As illustrated, system 100 caninclude one or more servers 102, a communication network 104, a lightsensor 106, one or more mobile device(s) 108, a display device 110,communication links 112, 114, and 116, and/or any other suitablecomponents. In some implementations, one or more suitable portions ofprocesses 300 and 400 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be implementedin one or more components of system 100. For example, one or moresuitable portions of processes 300 and 400 can run on one or more ofserver(s) 102 and mobile device(s) 108 of system 100.

Server(s) 102 can include any suitable device that is capable ofreceiving and/or analyzing signals produced by a light sensor (e.g.,light sensor 106), detecting patterns of light level variations in thesesignals, detecting the presence of a display device and/or identifyingmedia content being presented on a display device based on patterns oflight level variations, performing pattern matching analysis on mediacontent, and/or performing any other suitable functions, such as ahardware processor, a computer, a data processing device, or acombination of such devices.

Light sensor 106 can include any suitable device that is capable ofsensing light in the surroundings of light sensor 106, producing signalsindicative of light levels in the surroundings of light sensor 106,and/or performing any other suitable function. For example, light sensor106 can include one or more light sensing elements, such as one or morephotodiodes, photodiode arrays, semiconductor charge-coupled device(CCD) image sensors, metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors,cameras, and/or any other suitable device that can sense light and/orconvert the sensed light into signals. Additionally, light sensor 106can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), signal processingcircuitry, input and/or output interfaces, and/or any other suitablecircuitry for producing a desired output.

Mobile device(s) 108 can include any suitable device that is capable ofreceiving user inputs, processing and/or analyzing signals produced bylight sensor 106, detecting patterns of light level variations in thesesignals, detecting the presence of a display device and/or identifyingmedia content being presented on a display device based on patterns oflight level variations, and/or performing any other suitable function.In some implementations, mobile device(s) 108 can be a mobile phone, atablet computer, a wearable computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a portable email device,and/or any other suitable device.

Display device 110 can be any suitable device that can receive, convert,and/or present media content, such as a television device, a streamingmedia player, a media center computer, a CRT display, an LCD, an LEDdisplay, a plasma display, a touch-screen display, a simulated touchscreen, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, and/or any other suitabledevice.

In some implementations, each of server(s) 102, light sensor 106, mobiledevice(s) 108, and display device 110 can be implemented as astand-alone device or integrated with other components of system 100.For example, light sensor 106 can be coupled to and/or integrated withmobile device(s) 108 (as shown in FIG. 1) in some implementations.

Communication network 104 can be any suitable computer network such asthe Internet, an intranet, a wide-area network (“WAN”), a local-areanetwork (“LAN”), a wireless network, a digital subscriber line (“DSL”)network, a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (“ATM”)network, a virtual private network (“VPN”), a satellite network, amobile phone network, a mobile data network, a cable network, atelephone network, a fiber optic network, and/or any other suitablecommunication network, or any combination of any of such networks.

In some implementations, server(s) 102, mobile device(s) 108, anddisplay device 110 can be connected to communication network 104 throughcommunication links 112, 114, and 116, respectively. In someimplementations, communication links 112, 114, and 116 can be anysuitable communication links, such as network links, dial-up links,wireless links, hard-wired links, any other suitable communicationlinks, or a combination of such links.

Each of server(s) 102, mobile device(s) 108, and display device 110 caninclude and/or be any of a general purpose device such as a computer ora special purpose device such as a client, a server, and/or any othersuitable device. Any such general purpose computer or special purposecomputer can include any suitable hardware. For example, as illustratedin example hardware 200 of FIG. 2, such hardware can include a hardwareprocessor 202, memory and/or storage 204, an input device controller206, an input device 208, display/audio drivers 210, display and audiooutput circuitry 212, communication interface(s) 214, an antenna 216,and a bus 218, in accordance with some implementations.

Hardware processor 202 can include any suitable hardware processor, suchas a microprocessor, a micro-controller, digital signal processor,dedicated logic, and/or any other suitable circuitry for controlling thefunctioning of a general purpose computer or special purpose computer insome implementations.

Memory and/or storage 204 can be any suitable memory and/or storage forstoring programs, data, media content, and/or any other suitable contentin some implementations. For example, memory and/or storage 204 caninclude random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, hard diskstorage, optical media, and/or any other suitable storage device.

Input device controller 206 can be any suitable circuitry forcontrolling and receiving input from one or more input devices 208(e.g., such as light sensor 106) in some implementations. For example,input device controller 206 can be circuitry for receiving input from alight sensor, from a touch screen, from one or more buttons, from avoice recognition circuit, from a microphone, from a camera, from anoptical sensor, from an accelerometer, from a temperature sensor, from anear field sensor, and/or any other suitable circuitry for receivinguser input.

Display/audio drivers 210 can be any suitable circuitry for controllingand driving output to one or more display and audio output circuitries212 in some implementations. For example, display/audio drivers 210 canbe circuitry for driving an LCD display, a speaker, an LED, and/or anyother display/audio device.

Communication interface(s) 214 can be any suitable circuitry forinterfacing with one or more communication networks, such ascommunication network 104 in some implementations. For example,interface(s) 214 can include network interface card circuitry, wirelesscommunication circuitry, and/or any other suitable circuitry forinterfacing with one or more communication networks.

Antenna 216 can be any suitable one or more antennas for wirelesslycommunicating with a communication network in some implementations. Insome implementations, antenna 216 can be omitted when not needed.

Bus 218 can be any suitable mechanism for communicating between two ormore of components 202, 204, 206, 210, and 214 in some implementations.

Any other suitable components can be included in hardware 200 inaccordance with some implementations.

In some implementations, any suitable computer readable media can beused for storing instructions for performing the processes describedherein. For example, in some implementations, computer readable mediacan be transitory or non-transitory. For example, non-transitorycomputer readable media can include media such as magnetic media (suchas hard disks, floppy disks, and/or any other suitable media), opticalmedia (such as compact discs, digital video discs, Blu-ray discs, and/orany other suitable optical media), semiconductor media (such as flashmemory, electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and/or any othersuitable semiconductor media), any suitable media that is not fleetingor devoid of any semblance of permanence during transmission, and/or anysuitable tangible media. As another example, transitory computerreadable media can include signals on networks, in wires, conductors,optical fibers, circuits, any suitable media that is fleeting and devoidof any semblance of permanence during transmission, and/or any suitableintangible media.

Turning to FIG. 3, a flow chart of an example 300 of a process fordetecting a presentation of media content on a display in accordancewith some implementations of the disclosed subject matter is shown. Insome implementations, one or more portions of process 300 can beimplemented by one or more hardware processors, such as a hardwareprocessor of a server 102 and/or a mobile device 108 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated, process 300 can begin by receiving signals produced by alight sensor at 310. In some implementations, the light sensor can beany suitable device that can sense light from the light sensor'ssurroundings, detect light levels, and/or convert the sensed light intosignals. For example, the light sensor can be a light sensor 106 asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 1. In some implementations, thesignals can be generated by the light sensor and/or transmitted to ahardware processor executing process 300 continuously, at a suitableinterval (e.g., a few milliseconds, every second, a few seconds, a fewminutes, and/or any other suitable interval), and/or in any othersuitable manner.

In some implementations, the received signals can include any suitableinformation indicative of light levels in the surroundings of the lightsensor. For example, the signals can include any suitable informationrelating to one or more light levels measured by the light sensor, suchas a value of a light level, a time corresponding to a light level, adifference between two light levels, and/or any other suitableinformation relating to the light level(s). As another example, thereceived signals can include one or more images, video streams, and/orany other suitable image data.

Next, at 320, process 300 can process and/or analyze the receivedsignals. In some implementations, the received signals can be processedand/or analyzed in any suitable manner to detect a pattern of lightlevel variations indicative of a presentation of media content on adisplay device. In some implementations, process 300 can process thereceived signals in any suitable manner to obtain any suitableinformation relating to variations in light levels. For example, process300 can process the received signals by calculating one or moreparameters representative of a variation in light levels. In someimplementations, a parameter representative of a variation in lightlevels can include a difference between two light levels, a variance ofmultiple light levels, a deviation of multiple light levels, adifference between a light level and an average of multiple lightlevels, a variance of multiple differences between levels, and/or anyother suitable parameter indicative of variations in light levels. Asanother example, process 300 can process the received signal to obtaintiming information relating to variations in light levels, such as atime corresponding to a particular light level, a time period and/or atime corresponding to a variation in light levels, and/or any othersuitable timing information relating to variations in light levels.

In some implementations, the information relating to variations in lightlevels can be analyzed in any suitable manner. For example, process 300can analyze the information relating to variations in light levels todetect variations in light levels indicative of a scene change in apresentation of media content. In a more particular example, such avariation in light levels can include a variation in light levels thatis greater than a predetermined threshold.

As another example, process 300 can analyze the information relating tovariations in light levels to detect variations in light levelsindicative of a presentation of a video scene of media content. In someimplementations, a variation in light levels indicative of apresentation of a video scene can be a variation in light levels thatfalls within a predetermined range (e.g., a variation in light levelsthat is greater than a first threshold but less than a secondthreshold), a variation in light levels that is less than apredetermined threshold, and/or any other suitable variation in lightlevels. In some implementations, a variation in light levels indicativeof a presentation of a video scene can correspond to light levels thatare detected during a suitable time period (e.g., a few seconds, a fewminutes, and/or any other suitable time period).

At 330, process 300 can determine whether a pattern of light levelvariations indicative of a presentation of media content has beendetected. This determination can be made in any suitable manner. Forexample, process 300 can determine that a pattern of light levelvariations indicative of a presentation of media content has beendetected in response to detecting one or more variations in light levelsindicative of a presentation of a video scene and then one or morevariations in light levels indicative of a scene change. As anotherexample, process 300 can determine that a pattern of light levelvariations indicative of a presentation of media content has beendetected in response to detecting variations in light levels indicativeof a presentation of multiple video scenes and one or more variations inlight levels indicative of one or more scene changes during thepresentation of the video scenes.

In some implementations, process 300 can return to 310 in response todetermining that a pattern of light level variations indicative of apresentation of media content has not been detected (e.g., by failing todetect such a pattern of light level variations for a predetermined timeperiod). Alternatively, upon detecting a pattern of light levelvariations indicative of a presentation of media content, process 300can determine that media content is being presented on a display deviceat 340.

At 350, process 300 can identify information about the media contentbeing presented on the display device. In some implementations, anysuitable information relating to the media content can be identified,such as a content identifier (e.g., a program identifier, a uniformresource identifier (URI), and/or any other suitable identifier that canbe used to identify the media content item), a title, a description, achannel number, a start time, an end time, a series number, an episodenumber, and/or any other suitable information that can be used toidentify the media content.

In some implementations, the information about the media content can beidentified in any suitable manner. For example, the information aboutthe media content can be identified based on a pattern of light levelvariations detected during the presentation of the media content. Insome implementations, the pattern of light level variations can includea pattern of light level variations used to determine that media contentis being presented (e.g., such as a pattern of light level variationsdetected as described in connection with steps 320-330). Alternativelyor additionally, the pattern of light level variations can be detectedin any other suitable manner (e.g., such as that described below inconnection with steps 410 and 420 of FIG. 4).

In some implementations, as described below in connection with FIG. 4,the detected pattern of light level variations can be compared againstknown patterns of light level variations corresponding to a collectionof known media content items. Process 300 can then identify a knownmedia content item corresponding to a matching known pattern of lightlevel variations as being the media content that is being presented onthe display device. In some implementations, the pattern of light levelvariations can be detected by one or more hardware processors executingprocess 300 and can be transmitted to a suitable device (e.g., ahardware processor executing process 400 of FIG. 4) for analysis.Alternatively or additionally, a hardware processor executing process300 of FIG. 3 can match the detected pattern of light level variationsagainst known patterns of light level variations to identify the mediacontent being presented on the display device.

As another example, the media content can be identified based on anaudio sample representative of the media content being presented on thedisplay device. In a more particular example, an audio fingerprint canbe generated from the audio sample and can be compared against knownaudio fingerprints associated with a collection of known media contentitems. The media content being presented on the display device can thenbe identified upon finding a known audio fingerprint that matches thegenerated audio fingerprint.

As yet another example, the media content can be identified based on oneor more frames of the media content being presented on the displaydevice. In a more particular example, process 300 can generate one ormore video fingerprints based on the frames using any suitable videofingerprinting technique and can then identify the media content usingany suitable video matching technique.

In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein can, forexample, include capture modules that can receive and process signalsfrom multiple sources (e.g., television channels, channels on a videohosting Web site, a device that provides recorded video programs, and/orany other suitable sources of media content). For example, in someimplementations, these capture modules can monitor multiple sources ofmedia content, detect patterns of light level variations at particulartime intervals (e.g., every N milliseconds), capture frames atparticular time intervals, generate audio or video fingerprints atparticular time intervals, and/or store the detected patterns, capturedframes, audio or video fingerprints, and other content identifiers in astorage device.

In some implementations, at 360, process 300 can cause informationrelating to the identified media content to be presented. In someimplementations, any suitable information relating to the media contentcan be presented, such as information relating to news items, programinformation, and/or any other suitable content relating to the mediacontent. In some implementations, information relating to the mediacontent can be presented using any suitable media content, such as text,images, video content, audio content, and/or any other suitable content.In some implementations, information relating to the identified mediacontent can be presented using any suitable device. For example, suchinformation can be presented on the display device that is presentingthe media content item, a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a tabletcomputer, a wearable computer, and/or any other suitable mobile device),and/or any other suitable device.

Turning to FIG. 4, a flow chart of an example of a process foridentifying a media content item being presented on a display device inaccordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter isshown. In some implementations, process 400 can be implemented by one ormore hardware processors, such as a hardware processor of a server 102of FIG. 1 and/or a hardware processor of a mobile device 108 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated, process 400 can begin by receiving a signal indicativeof light levels detected during a presentation of a media content itemon a display device at 410. This signal can be generated and/or receivedin any suitable manner. For example, the signal can be generated using alight sensor that can detect light levels in the light sensor'ssurroundings (e.g., step 310 of FIG. 3) and can be transmitted to one ormore hardware processors executing process 400. In some implementations,the received signal can correspond to a presentation of any suitableportion or portions of the media content item, such as one or more videoscenes, scene changes, a group of pictures, and/or any other suitableportion or portions of the media content item. In some implementations,the received signal can have any suitable duration (e.g., a few seconds,a few minutes, and/or any other suitable duration).

At 420, process 400 can detect a pattern of light level variations basedon the received signal. In some implementations, the pattern of lightlevel variations can be detected in any suitable manner. For example,the pattern of light level variations can be detected by calculating oneor more parameters representative of a variation in light levelsdetected during the presentation of the media content item. In someimplementations, a parameter representative of a variation in lightlevels detected during the presentation of the media content item can bea difference between two detected light levels, a difference between adetected light level and an average of multiple detected light levels,an average of multiple differences between detected light levels, avariance of multiple differences between detected light levels, and/orany other suitable parameter indicative of variations in light levelsdetected during the presentation of the media content item.

As another example, the pattern of light level variations can bedetected by associating one or more parameters representative ofvariations in light levels detected during the presentation of the mediacontent item with suitable timing information. In a more particularexample, a given difference between two detected light levels can beassociated with a time period during which the light levels weredetected, a time at which one of the light levels was detected, and/orany other suitable timing information.

In some implementations, the pattern of light level variations can haveany suitable form, such as one or more continuous signals, discretesignals, sequences of numbers, and/or any other suitable form of datathat can be used to represent variations in light levels.

In some implementations, the pattern of light level variations can bedetected by and/or transmitted from any suitable device, such as one ormore hardware processors executing process 300 of FIG. 3. Alternativelyor additionally, the pattern of light level variations can be detectedby one or more hardware processors executing process 400.

At 430, process 400 can access a database storing known patterns oflight level variations associated with known media content items tosearch for a known pattern of light level variations that matches thedetected pattern of light level variations. In some implementations, thedatabase can index and store known patterns of light level variations bymedia content item.

In some implementations, a known pattern of light level variationsassociated with a media content item can contain any suitableinformation relating to variations in light levels corresponding to apresentation of the media content item and/or any suitable portion ofthe media content item. For example, the known pattern of light levelvariations can include any suitable information relating to variationsin light levels corresponding to a presentation of one or more videoscenes of the media content item. In some implementations, informationrelating to variations in light levels corresponding to a presentationof a video scene can include any suitable parameter or parametersrepresentative of variations in light levels corresponding to thepresentation of the video scene, timing information relating to one ormore of these parameters (e.g., a time or time period corresponding to aparticular parameter representative of variations in light levelscorresponding to the presentation of the video scene), timinginformation relating to the presentation of the video scene (e.g., astart time, an end time, and/or any other suitable information relatingto the presentation of the video scene), and/or any other suitableinformation relating to variations in light levels corresponding to thepresentation of the video scene.

As another example, the known pattern of light level variations caninclude any suitable information relating to variations in light levelscorresponding to one or more scene changes during a presentation of themedia content item. In some implementations, information relating tovariations in light levels corresponding to such a scene change caninclude a time corresponding to the scene change, one or more parametersrepresentative of variations in light levels corresponding to the scenechange, and/or any other suitable information relating to the scenechange.

At 440, process 400 can identify a known pattern of light levelvariations that matches the detected pattern of light level variations.In some implementations, a matching known pattern of light levelvariations can be identified in any suitable manner. For example, amatching known pattern of light level variations can be identified bydetermining similarities and/or differences between the detected patternof light level variations and each of the known patterns of light levelvariations using a cross-correlation function, a coherence function, amutual information function, and/or any other suitable measure ofsimilarity and/or difference between a detected pattern of light levelvariations and a known pattern of light level variations.

As another example, a matching known pattern of light level variationscan be identified by comparing information relating to variations inlight levels associated with the detected pattern of light levelvariations and information relating to variations in light levelsassociated with each of the known patterns of light level variations. Ina more particular example, information relating to a variation indetected light levels (e.g., one or more parameters representative ofthe variations in detected light levels, a time corresponding to thevariation in detected light levels, and/or any other suitableinformation relating to the variation in detected light levels) can becompared to information relating to scene changes during a presentationof a media content item associated with a known pattern of light levelvariations (e.g., one or more parameters representative of variations inlight levels corresponding to a scene change, a time corresponding to ascene change, and/or any other suitable information relating to thescene changes) to identify a match. In another more particular example,information relating to variations in detected light levels during agiven time period can be compared to information relating to variationsin light levels corresponding to a presentation of one or more videoscenes of a media content item associated with a known pattern of lightlevel variations to identify a match.

At 450, process 400 can identify the media content item associated withthe detected pattern of light level variations. For example, uponidentifying a known pattern of light level variations that matches thedetected pattern of light level variations, process 400 can identify amedia content item associated with the known pattern of light levelvariations as being the media content item associated with the detectedpattern of light level variations. Additionally, in someimplementations, process 400 can retrieve any suitable informationrelating to the media content item, such as a content identifier (e.g.,a program identifier, a uniform resource identifier (URI), and/or anyother suitable identifier that can be used to identify the media contentitem), a title, a description, a channel number, a start time, an endtime, a series number, an episode number, and/or any other suitableinformation that can be used to identify the media content item.

It should be noted that the above steps of the flow diagrams of FIGS.3-4 can be executed or performed in any order or sequence not limited tothe order and sequence shown and described in the figures. Also, some ofthe above steps of the flow diagrams of FIGS. 3-4 can be executed orperformed substantially simultaneously where appropriate or in parallelto reduce latency and processing times. Furthermore, it should be notedthat FIGS. 3-4 are provided as examples only. At least some of the stepsshown in these figures may be performed in a different order thanrepresented, performed concurrently, or altogether omitted.

In situations in which the systems discussed here collect personalinformation about users, or may make use of personal information, theusers may be provided with an opportunity to control whether programs orfeatures collect user information (e.g., information about a user'ssocial network, social actions or activities, profession, a user'spreferences, or a user's current location), and/or to control whetherand/or how to receive content from the content server that may be morerelevant to the user. In addition, certain data may be treated in one ormore ways before it is stored or used, so that personally identifiableinformation is removed. For example, a user's identity may be treated sothat no personally identifiable information can be determined for theuser, or a user's geographic location may be generalized where locationinformation is obtained (such as to a city, ZIP code, or state level),so that a particular location of a user cannot be determined. Thus, theuser may have control over how information is collected about the userand used by a content server.

The provision of the examples described herein (as well as clausesphrased as “such as,” “e.g.,” “including,” and the like) should not beinterpreted as limiting the claimed subject matter to the specificexamples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only some ofmany possible aspects.

Accordingly, methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation ofmedia content on a display device based on detected light levels areprovided.

Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustratedin the foregoing illustrative implementations, it is understood that thepresent disclosure has been made only by way of example, and thatnumerous changes in the details of implementation of the disclosedsubject matter can be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the disclosed subject matter, which is limited only by the claimsthat follow. Features of the disclosed implementations can be combinedand rearranged in various ways.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for detecting a presentation of mediacontent on a display device, the system comprising: a sensor thatdetects light levels in an environment of the sensor and generates asignal representing the detected light levels; and at least one hardwareprocessor that is coupled to the sensor and that is configured to:receive the signal that represents the light levels in the environmentof the sensor; detect at least one variation in the light levels basedon the received signal; determine whether the at least one variation inthe light levels is indicative of a presentation of a video scene; anddetermine that a media content item is being presented on the displaydevice in response to determining that the at least one variation in thelight levels is indicative of the presentation of the video scene. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hardware processor isfurther configured to: detect an additional variation in the lightlevels based on the signal; and determine whether the additionalvariation in the light levels is indicative of a scene change subsequentto the video scene.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least onehardware processor is further configured to determine that the mediacontent item is being presented on the display device in response todetermining that the at least one variation in the light levels isindicative of the presentation of the video scene and in response todetermining that the additional variation in the light levels isindicative of the scene change.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein theadditional variation in the light levels is indicative of the scenechange when the additional variation in the light levels is greater thana predetermined threshold value.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theat least one variation is indicative of the presentation of the videoscene when the at least one variation falls within a predeterminedrange.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hardwareprocessor is further configured to: detect a pattern of light levelvariations based on the received signal; compare the detected pattern oflight level variations to a plurality of known patterns of light levelvariations associated with a plurality of known media content items; andidentify one of the plurality of known media content items as beingpresented on the display device based on the comparison.
 7. The systemof claim 6, wherein the hardware processor is configured to compare thedetected pattern of light level variations to the plurality of knownpatterns of light level variations by at least determining across-correlation between the detected pattern of light level variationsand each of the plurality of known patterns of light level variations.8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one hardware processor isfurther configured to cause information relating to the identified mediacontent item of the plurality of known media content items to bedisplayed.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hardwareprocessor is further configured to derive a parameter representative ofthe at least one variation in the light levels.
 10. A method fordetecting a presentation of media content on a display device, themethod comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in anenvironment of the light sensor; generating a signal representing thedetected light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor coupled tothe light sensor, at least one variation in the light levels based onthe received signal; determining whether the at least one variation inthe light levels is indicative of a presentation of a video scene; anddetermining that a media content item is being presented on the displaydevice in response to determining that the at least one variation in thelight levels is indicative of the presentation of the video scene. 11.The method of claim 10, further comprising: detecting an additionalvariation in the light levels based on the signal; and determiningwhether the additional variation in the light levels is indicative of ascene change subsequent to the video scene.
 12. The method of claim 11,further comprising determining that the media content item is beingpresented on the display device in response to determining that the atleast one variation in the light levels is indicative of thepresentation of the video scene and in response to determining that theadditional variation in the light levels is indicative of the scenechange.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional variation inthe light levels is indicative of the scene change when the additionalvariation in the light levels is greater than a predetermined thresholdvalue.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one variation isindicative of the presentation of the video scene when the at least onevariation falls within a predetermined range.
 15. The method of claim10, further comprising: detecting a pattern of light level variationsbased on the received signal; comparing the detected pattern of lightlevel variations to a plurality of known patterns of light levelvariations associated with a plurality of known media content items; andidentifying one of the plurality of known media content items as beingpresented on the display device based on the comparison.
 16. The methodof claim 15, further comprising comparing the detected pattern of lightlevel variations to the plurality of known patterns of light levelvariations by at least determining a cross-correlation between thedetected pattern of light level variations and each of the plurality ofknown patterns of light level variations.
 17. The method of claim 15,further comprising causing information relating to the identified mediacontent item of the plurality of known media content items to bedisplayed.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising deriving aparameter representative of the at least one variation in the lightlevels.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by a hardwareprocessor, cause the hardware processor to perform a method fordetecting a presentation of media content on a display device, themethod comprising: detecting light levels in an environment of the lightsensor; generating a signal representing the detected light levels;detecting at least one variation in the light levels based on thereceived signal; determining whether the at least one variation in thelight levels is indicative of a presentation of a video scene; anddetermining that a media content item is being presented on the displaydevice in response to determining that the at least one variation in thelight levels is indicative of the presentation of the video scene.